Highest Rated Consumer 4k Cameras

How can we not love the Sony a6300? This exquisite compact mirrorless successor to the best-selling 2014 a6000 HD mirrorless camera offers the professional-grade BIONZ-X image processing engine of Sony’s top-shelf 4k mirrorless cameras and delivers some downright superb low light photo and video recording capacities, the a6300 is a great compact choice for anything from studio photography to wildlife and nature shooting in field.

The Sony Cyber-shot DSC-RX100 IV is the newest edition to one of Sony's most popular cameras. It has a 1” type 20MP stacked CMOS Exmor RS sensor. It can record in 4K, slow motion up to 960 fps, capture up to 16 fps continuous shooting, 24-70mm equivalent F1.8-2.8 lens, a pop-up electronic viewfinder, and a 2.35 million dot resolution. It also as a 3 inch screen and connectivity to smartphones via Wi-Fi.

Meet what is arguably the best 4K mirrorless point-and-shoot digital camera in the world. The Panasonic Lumix LX100 is not only insanely light at less than a pound in full weight, it’s also one a complete powerhouse of performance specs in recording 4K video and superb high resolution still photos at a very decent 113 megapixels. With other top-tier specs like a 1/4000 shutter speed, extended ISO range of 25,600 and numerous connectivity options which include WiFi and NFC, the LX100 is possibly your most straightforward, highest quality existing option for superb photo and video recording at a truly affordable price.

The Leica D-Lux (Type 109) is the compact camera choice of professional photographers. With a new fast, Leica DC Vario-Summilux lens, and manual operations, it offers photographers a compact and sturdy camera with a full metal housing. With a high-speed shutter and focus peaking features, it also offers 4k video. It is available in black and features integrated Wi-Fi and Near Field Communication (NFC), plus a fast lens and an integrated high resolution electronic view finder.

It may be compact and aimed more at the consumer market but the Samsung NX500 is no slouch at all when it comes to some very serious photo and video specs. With a massive 28.2MP BS APS-C CMOS sensor, one superb image signal processor and robust 24p HEVC 4K video recording, this little compact mirrorless shooter also comes with a massive ISO and a flexible all-purpose 16.50mm zoom lens. It’s essentially just what any varied field photography fan would love.

Highest Rated 4k DSLRs / Mirrorless

Canon’s EOS-1D X DSLR Camera is one powerful, robust piece of photo and video hardware with a design that’s squarely aimed at pro shooters. This heavy-duty DSLR’s tough as nails magnesium alloy body is combined with some superb control features like a 3.2 inch LCD, smart viewfinder and a very large 18.1 MP sensor to deliver one truly excellent piece of 4K field recording equipment.

The Sony a7R II is a huge step forwards for the a7 series, offering a series of class-leading features. Its 42MP BSI CMOS sensor is hugely impressive across a wide range of shooting situations. The 5-axis image stabilization helps make the most of both this high pixel count and the camera's excellent 4K video footage. The ergonomics aren't perhaps as polished as some of its peers and battery life is short, but these concerns are secondary to the camera's sheer capability.

As Nikon’s 2016 flagship pro DSLR camera, the D5 offers a wide range of powerful photo and video specs for almost any consumer or professional taste. In in this robust new successor to the old NikonD4 DSLR, the manufacturer has definitely moved things up a notch with much higher ISO settings, more numerous AF points, touch screen LCD control display and of course the ability to shoot 4K video at some very decent frame rates. Overall, the D5 is not only a superb photo and ultra HD video shooter, it’s also a much needed new high-quality addition to the 4K DSLR camera options now available,

The Most Popular 4k Video Cameras

Panasonic's HC-X1000 4K DCI/Ultra HD/Full HD camera shoots and records cinema 4K at a true 24p, and UHD at broadcast compatible frame rates, so it fits smoothly into your existing broadcast workflow. The HC-X1000 features a 1/2.3" MOS sensor that is always shooting at 4K resolution, and uses its two built-in Venus processing engines to scale the 4K image for Full HD delivery.

Capture your vision in breathtaking 4K Ultra HD with the camcorder that fits in the palm of your hand. Sporting resolution that’s four times clearer than HD, this changes everything. Footage is captured with true cinematic depth thanks to the 1” image sensor and video is recorded with total versatility in mind: XAVC S1, AVCHD and MP4. Put one in your hand and tell your story in 4K.

The Panasonic HC-WX970 4k Ultra HD Camcorder features Built-in Twin Video Camere with Exclusive 4k Photo Pause and Capture Any Frame. Use the Second Build-in Video Camera to Record Two Scenes are Once of Connect it to your Smartphone. HDR, 20x Optical Zoom with 4-Drive Lens System.

Preserve your memories in 4K and get smooth footage thanks to Balanced Optical SteadyShot image stabilization. You can adjust settings with the Manual Control ring, and take advantage of versatile shooting formats in XAVC S, AVCHD and MP4. There’s built-in Wi-Fi so you can easily share your memories too.

Grab pro-level footage in gorgeous 4K resolution, with advanced image stabilization to counteract vibration and 240p recording for super slow-motion HD video. All in a splashproof body with manual controls, stereo mic with wind noise-reduction and built-in Wi-Fi. You can even edit your best moves into one video with included Highlight Movie Maker software.

Sony is expanding its line of professional 4K technologies with the new PXW-Z100 4K handheld XDCAM camcorder. The new model broadens professional 4K capabilities to new markets and applications beyond motion picture or high-end TV production. The camcorder's affordable price gives professionals even greater flexibility and more creative options for acquisition and production in HD, QFHD and 4K (4096x2160).

Tell your story in four times the resolution of Full HD with the 4K camera that’s made for everyone. Shoot with the breathtaking quality of XAVC-S 4K/60p and capture professional audio with XLR mic inputs. Even take direct, manual control with zoom, focus and iris rings, plus 7 assignable buttons. The groundbreaking power of 4K is ready to capture your imagination-experience it with Sony. Let the revolution begin.

4K Camera: Everything You’ll Need to Know – Reviews

4K technology is spreading into all the most popular entertainment and photo/video shooting media today and here we’re we’re going to give you a rundown of the 4K camera side of this new technological trend in resolution. We’ll explain everything you really need to know about them, buying them and what to look for.

Because of all the buzz, you’re probably wondering just what 4K means for cameras and if it’s something worth paying attention to. The answer is yes, it certainly is and a 4K DSLR is definitely going to deliver you photo and video results that leave a conventional high end DSLR in the dust. However, this extra value does also come at an added cost, though it’s not as steep as you might think.

What Are 4K Cameras?

The bottom line is that to at least some extent, all 4K cameras, from DSLRs to video production cameras, are capable of both taking photos and shooting video at least to some degree. Thus, to keep things simple, we need to distinguish between two basic kinds of 4K camera category that exist on the market today.

The first are video production cameras. These include models such as the Black Magic Production Camera and very well known Red Scarlet X. They are designed for full blown cinematic video production, of commercials, movies, documentaries and whatever else. They can also take superb still shots but their main design features are oriented far more towards filming movies in studio or field settings.

With very few exceptions, cinematic production cameras are not only not cheap but are also designed with professional cinematographers in mind.

After film production cameras, come the DSLR/Hybrid cameras. The DSLRs basically look and feel just like any other high end DSLR from Sony or Nikon but with their far greater 4K resolution and associated features. The hybrids on the other hand, such as the Canon EOS 1D-C, are cameras that could easily double as lite versions of serious video production cameras while still having the easy to carry and maneuver body designs of their smaller DSLR cousins. Thus, they’re hybrids, because while any 4K DSLR has video shooting ability, they take it to a higher level while also being designed for flexible photo taking.

Finally, we should mention camcorder style 4K cameras such as the Sony FDR-AX100. These are basically hand held small camcorders but with the power and video development features of much more powerful 4K film cameras. While they too can take beautiful still shots, they’re mainly designed for amateur mobile 4K video recording on a budget much smaller than the cost of a full 4K video camera.

What is 4K camera Technology?

4K camera technology, just like the 4K capacities of TVs and 4k projectors gives the cameras which have it the ability to take extremely detailed photo or video shots with a minimal resolution of 3,840 x 2160 pixels and more commonly an industry standard resolution of 4096 x 2160 pixels at a 1.9:1 aspect ratio.

All 4K cameras are capable of shooting video in these resolution settings but some can also take still shots at a much higher 5K resolution of 5120 x 2700 or even larger resolutions of 8K or higher in some rare cases. A notable example being the RED Scarlet X video production camera. These resolutions are possible due to specialized internal pixel shrinking technology and very powerful processors built into all such cameras. Many brands even have multiple processors running simultaneously for the sake of rendering such immensely clear resolutions.

In essence, when you film 4K video content with a camera that’s capable of rendering it, you’re creating native 4K content that you can later display on a UHD TV or 4k monitor under the same crystal clear resolution.

In addition to their enormously powerful resolution, all digital 4K cameras include a whole host of other photo/video features designed to make the most of their innate resolution power. While these developments vary between DSLR/Hybrid cameras and full scale professional video production cameras, they include capacities such as very large sensor sizes, numerous types of manual and automatic focus control, extremely powerful ISO settings and powerful internal processing software.

How Much Do 4K Cameras Cost?

4K cameras can vary in price enormously depending on what you’re looking for and which major type you choose. Full scale video production cameras like the above mentioned Black Magic or the RED Scarlet X will easily cost you $10,000 or more if you also buy all their needed attachments. On the other hand, hybrid cameras like the Canon EOS 1D-C can also take a solid 10 grand out of your bank account.

On the other hand, 4K DSLR cameras and mini camcorders, both of which are capable of shooting some absolutely spectacular 4K photos and videos will cost you anywhere from $800 to $4000 dollars. Still expensive in some cases, but much cheaper than their video production counterparts.

Furthermore, we should now also add that many flagship smartphones offer up 4K video recording that’s steadily getting more robust. This includes the ability to shoot UHD video at reasonable frame rates of 30fps (comparable to the frame rate of many 4K stand-alone cameras) and great light capture and color. One particular example of this technology is the iPhone 6S Plus, which has even been used to record professional documentaries with just its 4K video camera being used. In simple terms, some of the best value for your dollar on the market is found in these types of recording devices. You’re already getting your hands on a premium smartphone, which you need, and can also get a lot of the core benefits of ultra HD video recording.

many smarthphones now offer fairly robust 4K video cameras built right into them

What Should I look for in Buying 4K Camera?

This is going to depend a lot on what you need it for and what your personal preferences are. If you want something that can shoot professional video that has commercial and Hollywood film quality to it within a professional setting, then 4K Video production cameras are definitely your number one choice.

However, if you’re not a professional video producer and just want to explore the latest in high quality shooting resolution, then just start with a 4K camcorder such as the Sony FDR-AX100 or a solid 4K photo/video DSLR such as the Panasonic GH4. Either of these will cost you less than $3000 dollars and will deliver results batter than any conventional HD DSLR/amateur video camera.

The bottom line is that no one tech spec for either DSLR/Hybrid or video production cameras can guarantee overall quality. However, here are some key things to consider for both DSLR/Hybrid cams and video production machines.

Maximum Resolution: All 4K cameras will have a maximum video resolution and a maximum still shot resolution. Your max video resolution will generally be measured in a vertical and horizontal pixel count such as 3,840 x 2,160 pixels (standard 4K UHD video). It will also have several lower 2K or smaller video shooting resolutions such as 1920 x 1080p. Photo resolution will be measured either in total megapixels or in terms of horizontal x vertical resolution. Thus, your camera might have a resolution of 17.2 megapixels and also have it stated as a max photo resolution of 4608 x 3456 pixels.

Processor: Pretty much all high end 4K cameras contain a powerful internal processor for rendering their images and video and they have to, otherwise they’d be abysmally slow. Go for cameras with multiple (two or more) internal processors.

Lens: Lenses are important for both photo and video shooting. Though most 4K film cameras and some DSLRs won’t even come with a lens included, make sure they have wide compatibility. A good example is the Canon EF compatibility standard, which is great if you can find it in the camera you want.

Sensor size and Type: Sensor size is basically a measurement of the dimensions of the photoreceptor array that creates your cameras pixels for video and photo. In general, the bigger your sensor, the better your photo/video quality will be. DSLRs normally have weaker and smaller sensors than higher end film production cameras and serious hybrids. Some great standards to go with are Micro four thirds, Super 35 mm and Full Frame. Furthermore, for some of the best value and quality in 4K video recording and photo capture at very high resolutions, you have your mirrorless camera models. Most compact and low-cost non-pro 4K cameras are actually mirrorless models and shooters like the Sony Alpha 6300 or the Panasonic Lumix DMC GX8 are not only very compact but also highly affordable and brimming with excellent video and photo recording specs.

a mirrorless 4K shooter like the GX8 offers some of the best value in UHD video recording equipment

Light sensitivity: This is measured by your cameras ISO setting, and the broader it is, the better your shooting will look in highly variable or very dark lighting conditions. Some DSLRs have ISO settings that are as high as 400,000 plus and go as low as 50. The broader the range you can get, the better.

Video Formats: The video specs of your camera should include RAW if possible, other great compression formats are AVCHD, H.264 and MP4. Also, go for a camera that gives you the ability to shoot at above 60 frames per second at as high a resolution as possible. Most 4K DSLRs won’t give you more than 30 fps for 4K video however.

Amazing fast motion still shots: The 4K video technology in many higher end professional video cameras and even some compact mirrorless or DSLR shooters offers one particular benefit for photography that no HD shooter can match. This is the ability to capture some truly superb sequences of still shots, particularly for fast moving objects and high speed action. The simple reason for this is that individual frames from 4K video offer up nearly 8.5 megapixels of resolution, which is more than enough for printing out and blowing up a decent-sized still photo. Thus in many higher end cameras, the ability to extract individual stills comes built-in. In other words, instead of relying on photo shutter speed to grab a perfect shot of a sparrow taking off or a hummingbird moving around a flower, you can just film a few seconds of video in each case, and then sort through the dozens of frames for the perfect composition. This simply isn’t possible with the resolution of Full HD recording.

Connectivity: You want your camera to come with a good connectivity setup. This includes WiFi capacity, HDMI inputs/outputs (for directly feeding 4K video to a computer or TV) and the usual audio and video inputs/outputs.

The above are some of the more important specs to look out for in both 4K video cameras and DSLR photo cameras, but there are many others you might also find important for your particular circumstances and needs. These include advanced auto features such as image stabilization, automatic zoom modes, viewfinder controls and software editing features that are built into your camera.

What’s the Bottom Line?

The bottom line is that 4K is definitely here to stay, and the 4K video and photo cameras we’re seeing emerge today will eventually replace most Full HD 1080p conventional DSLRs and video cameras. If you want to be ahead of the curve and also have a filming tool that really creates some absolutely brilliant shots and videos, then go for a 4K recorder.

Hello Sunmonu, the Sony HVR-Z7U is neither a 4K or 2K camcorder. It shoots 1080p and 1080i video, with 1080p shot at 30 frames per second asn 1080i shot at 60 fields per second, amounting to essentially the same thing in practical terms, 1080px30fps. Again, no 4K or 2K.

Does anyone have an idea when Sony will be replacing/upgrading their AX100? I’ve had mine for a while and whilst it IS a phenominal piece of kit I feel it could benefit from having a better quality slo-mo feature as well as the ability to shoot 4K at 50/60fps.

Hello there John. I’d suggest a careful look at Black Magic design’s products. They not only make some very solid 4K cameras but also have a whole ecosystem built around them for professional production work on a relatively decent budget. Then, if you’re willing to spend a fair bit more, for serious cinematic and pro video production work, there are the RED 4K shooters, which we have reviewed as well here. What’s your maximum budget, so I can give a more narrowed down and specific suggstion?

All of these are priced at a bit or a lot below $1500 and they’re all solid performers at 4K recording even if they don’t deliver cinematic video quality, but then to get something like that you’d have to go for a more serious cinematic 4K recorder like one of RED’s cameras or the Black Magic cameras and all of these cost well above $1500.

Hey!
Most of the DSLRs / Mirrorless cameras are not using the whole sensor for 4k.
Do you have a list or even can you make one with this Crop factors for 4k?
It is not that easy to find informations about.

I will start with the list, may be you can complete it.

Canon 1DXMKII Crop 1,33
Canon 5DMKIV Crop 1,75

Nikon D5 Crop 1,5

Sony A7II S Crop 1,0
Sony A7II R Crop 1,75 ???

Panasonic GH4 Crop in total 2,3

What about other cameras?
Would be great to have such informations.
For me this kind of informations are important, because of difference in depth of field as well as in ultra wide angel lenses.
Thanks
Georg

Hello Engr, one I’d recommend as an idea (though it’s not strictly a CCTV camera) is the Nest Cam 4K, the new model released by the company. it supports WiFi and records video streams in 1080p HD with a 130 degree FOV but is also capable of 4K stills under a 12x digital zoom. Nest also has a cheaper pure 1080p camera without the 4K zoom functionality which costs less.

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